By JASMIN BONIMY, Guardian Staff Reporter, jasmin@nasguard.com

Major alterations to roadways in southwestern New Providence are expected to relieve traffic nightmares that plagued two of the areas' subdivisions over the past year.

In recent months, residents of Blue Hill Heights have voiced their complaints over, what they call, the improper planning of the Pride Estates subdivision as it relates to road access. Since then, residents from both neighborhoods have been locked in a verbal battle over traffic flow in both areas, with the Blue Hill Heights residents calling for the only corridor leading into Pride Estates to be closed at its Tonique Williams Darling Highway entrance.

Yesterday, Minister of Works and Transport, Earl Deveaux, told the press that he recently met with the Blue Hill Heights homeowners to iron out the details surrounding the residential drama.

"I met with the residents of the Blue Hill Heights subdivision and the Pride Estates people were not there," said Minister Deveaux. "At this time, we took a look at the approved subdivision for Pride Estates and we showed the Blue Hill Heights residents where the road corridors should have gone so that they accommodate Pride Estates and prevent the road incursions they were experiencing. We also indicated to them at that time that we would implement it over the summer."

The vehicular passageway in question is a back road leading from Pride Estates that provides access to Carmichael Road. However, in media reports, some Blue Hill Heights residents insisted that the road, which is used as a short-cut, is private property. They add that among the vehicles that travel through the neighborhood are pay-loaders, trailers, and heavy-duty vehicles that assist with construction in the area.

Deveaux added that his Ministry is currently working on ways to alleviate traffic flow in the area. While he did not go into detail on what possible alterations would include, the cabinet minister did admit that work on the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP) is another avenue that would assist in the ministry's efforts.

"A part of the initiative is the lack of completion of the New Providence Road Improvement Project on Sir Milo Butler," explained Deveaux. "So once that is done, all of those people that go through Pride Estates and Blue Hill Heights west of Milo Butler would go straight over the highway from Carmichael Road. And then we will have the other junction around Pride Estates completed so you don't have what amounts to literally setbacks."

According to officials, work on the NPRIP is expected to resume next month. This comes after years of delays despite the negotiation of a contract with the Argentinean construction company, Jose Cartellone Construcciones Civiles S.A. back in 2004.

The Bahamian government along with the Inter-American Development Bank is expected to pump in excess of $119 million to complete the project in the next two years.

In an interview last March, Deveaux said the project, which will meet US standards, will see the creation of 19 corridors across New Providence. Some will include an extension of the Milo Butler Highway from Carmichael Road to Cowpen Road. The Milo Butler Highway will also be extended from its northern portion through Tonique Williams Darling Highway, Bethel Avenue, Farrington Road, and onto West Bay Street. Prince Charles Drive will be widened from the Mall at Marathon up to Beatrice Avenue, all the way up to Fox Hill Road. Market Street and Blue Hill Road will also be widened and additional junction works will be carried out on Marathon Road, Soldier Road and Wulff Road between Marathon and Village Roads.